Machine for preliminarily assembling covers to containers



Dec. 7, 1937. 1 F PRlCE 2,101,291

MACHINE FOR PRELIMINABILY ASSEMBLING COVERS TO CONTAINERS BY @Iliff/:ffice ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1937. 1, F, PRICE 2,101,291

MACIIiIN FOR PRELIMINARILY ASSEMBLING COVERS TOv CONTAINERS Filed June 23, 1956 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.'

@im ffice ATTORNEYS.

J. F. PRICE Dec. 7, 1937. 2,101,291

MACHINE FOR PRELIMINARILY ASSEMBLING COVERS TO CONTAINERS Filled June 23, 1936 4 Sheets-Shea?l 5 INVENTOR.' Jaim Pfz ce www ATTORNEY.

J. F. PRICE Dec. 7, 193 7.

MACHINE FOR PRELIMINARIIY ASSEMBLING COVERS TO CONTAINERS Filed June 23, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1mi-Price ,i

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dee. 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE IMACHINE Fon PRELIMINARmY ASSEM- BLING COVERS T CONTAINERS John F. Price, Fulton, N. Y., assignor'to Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N. Y., a corporation of New York `Application June 23,

e claims.

This invention relatesto a machine for automatically applying covers to containers.

More particularly, the invention relates to a. machine for applying what is known as slip covers to cylindrical containers, the lcontainers and slip covers being both formed of fibrous material, such as heavy paper-board. These containers areV used extensively in the packaging of merchandise in comparatively small quantities for retail trade such, for example, as the packaging of ice-cream not to be consumed at the soda fountain.

Heretofore, these containers have been manufactured in various types, forms and sizes by automatic machines, and the covers have been likewise manufactured. These containers are shipped to the customer with the covers applied thereto. Heretofore,.the covers have been applied to the containers by hand, and inasmuch as the container and cover making machines have been perfected over a period of time, the containers and covers are produced rapidly in large volume by the machine necessitating two or more persons to each machine in order to apply the covers to the containers as rapidly as the containers and covers ar-e. produced by the automatic machine.

An object of the present invention is a machine which will automatically selecta cover and container, and apply the cover to the container without the necessity of any manual operation whatever.

A further object of the invention is a machine of the type described which functions to place each cover on each container with the same relative pressure, and with the cover placed in the same relativeposition.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a top, plan view, partially in section.

Figure 3 is a View taken on lines 3--3, Figure .2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken lengthwise through a container and cover, with the cover preliminarily applied to the container, and a fragmentary section of the container and cover engaging elements of the machine.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the container gripping 'members the operating cam therefor, and the linkage between the grippers and the cam..

The machine comprises'generally a suitable 1936, Serial No. 86,807 (Cl. 93-55.1)

legs I I, and a plurality of brackets extending upwardly from the base and arranged to support the variouselements of the machine.

As here shown, substantially cylindrical brackets.l2, I3, are mounted at each end of the base I0 and are providedcentrally with bearings It inwhich the main shaft I5 is journalled. The shaft I5 extends lengthwise of the frame of the machine, and the end extending through' the bearing Ill in bracket I3 has secured thereto a worm wheel I 'l which is engaged bya worm I8 mounted upon a shaft I5 extending transversely A through the bracket I3. Continuous rotary movement is imparted to the shaft I9 in any suitable manner. As here shown, the outer end of the shaft IQ is provided with a belt pulley 20, and a motor 2l is` mounted in the adjacent leg I I of the frame, with a belt 22 running over the pulley of the motor 2I and the pulley 20. Preferably, a clutch 23 is arranged between the shaft I9 and the worm I8 to control operation of the machine without stopping the motor. The shaft I9, gears I1, I 8, and shaft I5 constitute the main drive mechanism ofthe machine.

'I'he mechanism for arranging the containers andA covers in spaced apart axial alinement includes a plurality of disks or carrying members arranged on the shaft I5 in spaced apart relationship and provided in their peripheries with a plurality of semi-circular recesses.

During the application of the cover to the container, the container is supported and carried by the disks 25, 26. The disk 25 is se. ured to the shaft I5 as by a, set screw 21, Figure'2, and the disk 2B is secured to the shaft I5 in like manner and spaced axially from the disk 25, the spacing depending upon the length of the container to be covered.4 The spacing is such, that the open end of the container projects-through or beyond the disk 26 as shown in Figure 4. The disks 25, 26, are provided with a plurality of semi-circular recesses arranged in the periphery of the disk and equally spaced apart circumferentially. In the present instance, there are four of such' recesses 30.

Thedisk 26 is formed with a plurality of outwardly extending bosses 3l. That is, the bosses 3I extend to the right Figure 2, and an annular member 33 is secured' to the bosses 3| by cap screws 34, see Figure 5. The annular member 33 is provided with recesses 35 similar to the recesses 30 in disks 25, 26, and are arranged in axial alinement with said recesses 30. That is, the annular member 33 is similar in peripheral form to the disks 25, 26, and is arranged concentrically of the shaft I5 and rotatable with the disk 26. The purpose of the annular member 33 is to receive the slip covers and support the same preparatory to their being applied to the open end of the container.

A container gripping or holding mechanism is arranged between the disk 26 andthe annular member 33 adjacent the recesses 30, 35.

As here shown, the gripping mechanism comprises a pair of arcuate container engaging jaws 36 extending substantially radially outward beyond the periphery of the disk 26. The jaws 30 are arranged to osc'illate about a pivot 31 and are provided with inwardly extending arms 38. The jaws 36 are urged to closed position by tension springs 39, one end of which is attached to the arm portion 38, and the opposite end secured to the disk 26 or annular member 33. 'I'he jaws 36 are operated, at proper time intervals or at a predetermined time, to c'lose upon the open end of the container C which extends through or beyond the disk 26, and to subsequently open to release the container. 'I'he mechanism for effecting this operation of the jaws 36 includes linkage connected to the jaws and operated by a cam 40 arranged concentrically of the shaft I5,V but not secured thereto. A bell crank lever 42 is pivoted to the disk 26 on stud 43. One arm of the lever 42 is provided with a roller 44 which engages the surface of the cam 40, and the opposite arm of the lever is pivoted at 45 to like ends of a pair of links 46', the opposite ends of which are pivoted to the jaws 36 as at 41. As the roller 44 is moved radially outwardly by the cam 40, effecting counter-clockwise movement of the bell crank 42,

.Figure 5, the jaws 36 are permitted to rotate or oscillate about their pivots 31 and accordingly, to open as shown in the bottom and left hand positions Figure 3. When the follower 44 is permitted to move radially inwardly, the jaws 36 are closed under the action of the springs 39 to grip the outer end of the container C. The cam 40 is mounted on the hub of disk 26, see Figure 2, g

and is prevented from rotation by a bracket 48, the lower end of which is secured to the base I0 of the frame. The lower portion of the cam 40 is provided with a lobe to move the roller 44 radially outwardly when the jaws 36 assume a down- 4ward position to release the containers C and discharge them into the trough 50 through an aperture 5I in the base I0 of the frame.

The jaws 36 also serve the additional purpose of arranging the container and the cover in coaxial alinement. The cover C1, shown in Figure 4, is known as a slip cover, and comprises a central discoidal portion and having a depending annular flange which encircles the top portion of the container. The flange of the cover is usually formed so as to have a tight t when the cover is applied to the container, or at least the upper portion of the flange will have such a fit. Accordingly, it is necessary that the cover and the container be alined accurately previous to the application of the cover to the container. That portion of the inner side of the jaw 36 toward the disk 26 is of such diameter as to tightly engage the barrel of the container when the jaws are closed under action of the springs 39. The adjacent inner portion of the jaw toward the cover carrying member 33 is recessed slightly to accommodate the depending flange of the slip cover, and the outer edge of this surface is chamfered as shown in Figures 2 and 4, so that the flange of the cover may be guided into the adjacent portion of the jaw when the cover is moved axially toward the container, as will be hereinafter described.

The containers C are fed to the machine by means of a pair of guides 52, and the covers are fed te the machine by means of a guide 53. An'

arcuate guide or track member 54 is arranged concentrically with the disk 25 and in radially spaced apart relationship thereto and extending substantially to maintain the containers in the recess 30 until the covers have been applied. Also, a similar guide or track 55 is arranged in similar manner relative to the annular member 33 to maintain the covers in the recesses 35 until applied. The tracks 54, 55, are supported by the base I0 of the machine and their upper ends terminate adjacent the container and cover guides 52, 53, see Figures 1 and 3.

The machine also includes mechanism for effecting simultaneous axial and rotary movement between the containers and the covers during the application of the covers to the containers. This `mechanism includes a pair ofspider members 60,

6I, which are'also secured to and rotatable with the shaft I5. The spider member 66 is arranged at the outer side of vthe disk 25 and is provided with bosses 63 having apertures arranged in axial alinement with the recesses 36 in disk 25, and extending substantially parallel with the shaft I5. A sleeve 64 is slidably mounted in each of the bosses 63, and a. shaft 65 is mounted in each of the sleeves 64, and is secured theretol against axial and rotary movement by compression clamps 66, 61. The clamp 61 is keyed to one end of the sleeve 64 and provided with a radial projection 68 which is arranged in cam groove 69 incam member 16. The cam member 10 is rigidly secured to the end bracket I2 as by cap screws 1I. The cam groove 69 is formed to effect an axial movement of the sleeve 64 and shaft 65 during rotation of the spider 60.

'I'he opposite end of the shaft 65 is bored to receive a shaft 13 to the outer end of which is secured a presser plate 14, the face of which is preferably provided with a resilient disk 15 of rubber, or similar material. The presser plate 14 is secured or keyed to the shaft 13. The shaft 13 is provided with a slot 11, through which a pin 18 extends with the ends of the pin secured in the shaft 65. A compression spring 19 is inserted between the bottom of the recess in the shaft 65 and the end of the shaft 13. This arrangement provides relative axial movement between the shaft 13 and presser plate 14 against the action of spring 19, but rotation of the shaft 13 is prevented by pin 18 and in turn, shaft 65 issecured to the sleeve 64 which is slidably mounted in the boss 63, but held from rotation -by a suitable key.

The spider 6I is likewise provided with bosses 63 in which are-journalled sleeves 86, `one end of which is 'provided with a shoulder abutting against one end of the boss 63, and the other end is provided with a gear pinion 8I which is keyed to the sleeve 86 and secured thereto by means of a nut 82. A shaft or spindle 63 is slidably mounted inlthe sleeve 80. As here shown, the shaft 83 is the body of the container, but the upper portion provided with keys 84 to permit relative axial movement of the shaft 83 while itis rotated by the sleeve 80. The end of the shaft 83 toward the cover carrier 33 is recessed and a shaft 85 is mounted therein inthe same manner as the shaft 'I3 previously described. The rear end of the shaft 83 is provided with a cam follower 86 formed Ywith a boss 95 vslidably'mounted upon a rod 96, the

end of which is secured to a boss 91 on the spider member. 6I. The purpose of this structure is to prevent rotary motion of the cam follower 85 and the rear end of the shaft 83 is rotatably journalled in the cam follower 86 and secured thereto against relative endwise movement. 'I'he follower 86 engages a cam groove 81 in a cam 8B rigidly secured to the bracket I3. A large gear 90 is mounted conafter the manner of planetary gearing. The outer end of the shaft 85 is provided with a presser plate 93 similar to the presser plate 'I4 including the resilient covering.

The guides 52, 53, are adjustably supported on rods 94 arranged slightly to the rear of the frame and being supported by brackets 95.

In operation, the containers passing downwardly through the guides 52 drop into the recesses 38 as the container turrets or disks 25, 28, are rotated. In like manner, the covers in the guide 53 pass into the recesses 35 in the cover turret 33. As the turrets or disks 2.5, 26 and 33 revolve with shaft I 5, the containers are maintained in the recesses 30 by cooperation of the guide 54, and the covers maintained in the recesses 35 by cooperation of the guide members 55. The cam 30 is so arranged relatively that the jaws 35 are permitted to close inwardly on the container shortly after the container drops into the recesses 39 and the jaws thus remain closed until after the cover has been applied to the container and while the containers are being carried through an arc of substantially 180.

When the containers and the covers pass from the guides 52, 53 tothe recesses 30, 35, the presser plates l, 93 are withdrawn or spaced apart axially. As the lspider members, 6I revolve with the shaft I5, the presser plates 14, 93, are moved axially toward each other, the presser plate 16 engaging the bottom of the container and moving it axially to a predetermined position. It is to be remembered that during. operation of the machine, the cover presser plate 93 is continuously rotating. It is moved axially toward the container by the cam groove 87,- and when the entire movable mechanism has transferred the containers and covers from the top positionto the bottom position, that is. through substantially 180, the

' cover presser plate 93 has moved the cover sufficiently in an axial direction toward the container to press it on the container. The jaws 36 are then opened by the cam i9 and the contanier is prmitted to drop into the receiving chute 58.

By adjusting the clamp member 6l on the sleeve 54, the covers can be applied any distance on the open end of the container. In Figure 4, the cover is shown as applied substantially one-half the width of the flange of the cover. The reason for this is that the lower portion of the flange of the cover is of slightly greater diameter +han of the cover adjacent the discoidal disk is of slightly less diameter than the container in order to effect a tight seal when the cover of the container is finally applied; 'I'he purpose of the resilient or rubber facing on the presser plates 14, 93, is to insure rotary movement between the container and the cover, as the covers are applied'more efficiently and effectively when rotary motion is produced between the cover and the container.

It will be readily apparent that I have devised a machine of ,comparatively simple construction and which operates with great eciency in automatically applying covers to containers. The machine is operated continuously, and the containers and covers are continuously in movement while the covers are being applied.-

What I claim is:

l. A machine for applying covers to containers comprising a suitable frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, means for effecting continuous rotation of said shaft, a pair o f spaced apart container supporting disks secured to and rotatable with said'shaft, a cover carrying disk secured to and rotatable with said shaft, said container supporting disks and cover supporting disk being provided with means for arranging the containers and covers in axial alinement, means operable during rotation of said disks to effect relative axial movement between the container and the cover to place the latter on the container, and means operable subsequently for releasing the covered containers.

2. A machine for applying slip covers to containers comprising a suitable frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a pair of spaced apart disks secured to and revolvable with said shaft, said disks being provided with circumferentially spaced apart container receiving recesses, a third disk secured to and rotatable with said shaft and f being formed with cover receiving recesses arranged in axial alinement with the container receiving recesses in said rst mentioned disk, means operable to effect relative axial movement between the container and the cover to place'the latter on the container, means for maintaining the container and cover in the recesses in said disk, and means operable subsequently for releasing the covered containers.

3. A machine for applying slip covers to containers comprisinga suitable frame, a pair of spaced apart container supporting disks and a cover supporting-disk rotatably mounted in said frame and being arranged in axial alinement, said disks -being provided with means for supporting a containerand a cover in axial alinement, means for effecting continuous rotation of said disks, means operable during rotation of said disks to effect relative axial movement between the container and the cover to place the latter on the container, and means operable to covered container. l

4. A machine for applying Slipcovers to containers comprising a suitable frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a pair of spaced apart container supporting disks secured to and rotatable with said shaft, said disks being provided with circumferentially spaced apart container receiving recesses, a track member cooperable with said supporting disks to maintain thecontaiiiers in said recesses during rotary movement of said disks, a third disk secured to and rotatable with said shaft and being formed with cover receiving recesses arranged in axial alinement with4 the release the container receiving recesses in saidfirst mentioned disks, means carried by one of said container supporting disks to secure the container against rotary movement, means operable to effect relative axial movement between the container and the cover to apply the latter to the container, and means operable for subsequently releasing said covered container.

5. A machine for applying covers to containers comprising a suitable frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a pair of spaced apart container supporting disks secured to and rotatable with said shaft, said disks being provided with circumferentially spaced apart containerreceiving recesses, a third disk secured to and rotatable with said shaft and being formed with cover receiving recesses arranged in axial alinement with the container receiving recesses in said first mentioned disks, means cooperable with said disks for maintaining the containers and covers in said recesses, container gripping members carried by one of the container supporting disks and operable to secure the containers against rotary movement, a presser plate cooperable with the bottom end of the container and operable to move the same axially into engagement with said gripping members, and means for imparting axial movement of the cover toward the container and `to eiect rotary movement of the cover during such axial movement, and means for subsequently releasing the covered containers from said disks.

6. -A machine for applying covers to containers comprising a suitable frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a pair of spaced apart container supporting disks secured to and revolvable with said shaft, said disks being provided with circumferentially spaced apart container .receiving recesses, a track member cooperable with said supporting disks to maintain the containers in said recesses vduring rotary movement of said disks, a` plunger arranged in juxtaposition to each container receiving recess in one of said disks, and container gripping means carried by said second disk and arranged adjacent each container receiving recess of said disk, a third disk secured to and rotatable with said shaft and being formed With cover receiving recesses arranged in axial alinement with the container receiving recesses in said first mentioned disks, a plunger arranged in axial alinement with said cover receiving recess, means for discharging containers in. the container receiving disks and covers in the cover receiving disk, means for rotating said shaft and effecting axial movement of said plungers toward each other, and to impart rotary movement to the cover plunger to apply the cover to the container, and means operable' for subsequently releasing said gripping members.

'7. In a machine for assembling slip covers on containers including a suitable frame, a pair of turrets rotatably mounted in the frame on a common axis, means for effecting continuous rotation of said turrets, one of said turrets being provided with container. receiving recesses, and the other turret being provided with cover receiving recesses arranged in axial alinement with said container receiving recesses respectively, means for feeding the containers and covers to the respective turrets, gripping members carried by the container carrying turret and being operable to engage and hold the containers from rotation relative to said turret, and means oper'- able during rotation of said turrets to move said grippingy members into engagement with said containers, transfer the covers from the cover carrying turret to the ends of the containers and subsequently release said gripping members and discharge the covered containers.

8. A machine for applying slip covers to containers comprising a suitable frame, a pair of turrets rotatably mounted in said frame on a common axis, one of said turrets being provided with container receiving recesses, and the other turret being provided with cover receiving recesses arranged in alinement with the recesses yin the container carrying turret, means for imparting continuous rotation to said turrets, gripping members carried by the container carrying turret and arranged adjacent each container receiving recess and being operable to engage and hold the containers in said recess from relative rotatable movement, means rotatably mounted in said frame and associated with said cover carrying turret and operable during rotation of said turrets, and while said gripping members are in engagement with said containers, to transfer said covers from the cover carrying turret and apply the same to the end of the container, said kgripping members being also operable to guide the cover on the 'container during such transfer.

9. A machine for applying slip covers to containers comprising a suitable frame, a container carrying turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a cover carrying turret rotatably mounted in the frame coaxial with said first mentioned turret, said turrets being formed on their peripheries with container and cover receiving recesses respectively arranged in axial alinement, gripping members carried by said container carrying turret and being operable to grip said containers and hold the same from relative rotation, means associated with said container turret and operable to move the containers axially a predetermined distance toward the cover turret and maintain the containers in said position during application of the covers thereto, means associated with said cover turret and operable during rotation thereof to move the'covers axially from said turret onto the end of the container, and said gripping members being operable to guide the cover-during such transfer.

JOHN F. PRICE. 

